ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia’s climatologist’s office said June was one of the hottest on record in various Georgia cities, and the warmest ever recorded in Columbus.
Assistant climatologist Pam Knox said Friday the average temperature for the month in Columbus was 84.4 degrees, 5.2 degrees above normal for June and the highest for the 64 Junes for which records have been kept for the West Georgia city.
Chattanooga also recorded higher than normal temperatures, with thermometers climbing to 80 on the average day – a full 4.6 degrees above normal.
“It wasn’t outrageously abnormal,” said WRCB Channel 3 Meteorologist Paul Barys.
A ridge of high pressure has sat above the country, mostly cooking the Midwest and Southwest, Barys explained. But when that system rolled to the east, Chattanooga spent some time under the magnifying glass.